Russell & Diaz Jr. Aren’t Expecting to Go The Distance On May 19

WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr and JoJo Diaz Jr., met today at the kick off press conference for their showdown in Baltimore on May 19th.

The two Olympians will square off for the featherweight title, as Russell Jr. looks to keep the title he earned in 2015, while Diaz looks to secure a victory in his first title opportunity.

Russell, a Maryland native, is excited to be able to fight at home. “It’s cool to know that the people I see around all the time will be able to get in the car and drive 15 minutes to come watch this massacre. I can’t wait.”

The defending champion isn’t looking for a long night in the ring, and claims he will not go the distance for the remainder of his career.

“I’m one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet. Speed, power, ring IQ, we can get ugly if we need to. I don’t plan on going 12 rounds. I’m not going the distance with anybody for the remainder of my career. Mark my words.”

Even though he’s staring down Diaz Jr, Russell is already contemplating a final career opponent.

“My last fight will be against (Vasyl) Lomachenko,” the champion claimed at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

“I want to conclude my career with breaking my foot off of (Lomachenko). That will be the conclusion of it. I’m willing to wait, though. Right now, we’re good.”

For Diaz, this is a dream that he’s been waiting to enact on since he was 13 years old. And while there may be butterflies, he’s not worried about walking into Russell’s hometown. “I’m very confident; 100 percent confident I’ll beat him. I know that this is an opportunity that is presented to me and I’ll be victorious,” Diaz told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference.

Diaz’ also claimed that this fight won’t go the distance, because both men are not looking to back down.

“I don’t think it’s going to go the distance. Gary Russell is going to go out there and not back down and give the fight fans a good show, but I’m going to go out there and give a good show and not back down. So I think we’re both not going to back down and we’re going to brawl it out, and let the best man win.”